A 28-year-old man battling terminal cancer in Hong Kong has donated HK$800,000 to a children’s cancer charity, with a message to youngsters fighting the disease: “please always believe in your ability to recover.”
Gabriel Yeung, who was diagnosed with terminal stomach and liver cancer last year, announced his donation to the Children’s Cancer Foundation Hong Kong on social media on Thursday. A friend familiar with Yeung’s situation told HKFP on Friday that Yeung had been hospitalised for treatment and there was “no medical update” from his doctors.
In a public social media post, the University of Hong Kong graduate described the pain of battling terminal cancer and receiving chemotherapy since his diagnosis last year.
“Apart from struggling with side effects, it robs one of basic dignity as a human being as well as the ability to speak,” Yeung wrote in English.
“At this moment, what I desire most is for this world to be free of cancer and other illnesses,” the post reads. “I am very grateful for the support from my family, friends, colleagues and everyone around me.”
“I would like to leave what I can’t take away to the children who are bravely fighting against cancer. I have made a donation of HK$800,000 to the Children’s Cancer Foundation Hong Kong to support the work of the organization,” Yeung wrote.
In a voice note shared with the media by his friend, Yeung said children battling cancer suffered more – but were also braver – than he was.
“Because they are supposed to be enjoying a carefree childhood, but they have to face the hardship of going through cancer, that’s why I’ve decided to support them,” Yeung said in Cantonese.
The Children’s Cancer Foundation Hong Kong provides cancer care for young patients and their families. The organisation expressed its gratitude to Yeung, and sent him a gift in appreciation, according to the social media post.
Yeung also said that children fighting the disease should always believe in their ability to recover.
“Even though the journey is excruciating, as long as you don’t give up, have faith in your recovery, and perhaps, one day, a miracle may happen,” he said.
‘The best medication is not always affordable’
Vera Chin, CEO of Children’s Cancer Foundation Hong Kong, told HKFP on Friday that she was “very grateful for Gabriel’s donation,” adding that it would help lighten the heavy financial burden faced by the families of young cancer patients.
“He has proposed that the full amount of the donation would be used to sponsor drugs for children with cancer,” Chin said in Cantonese over the phone. Currently, the foundation allocates around HK$3 million to HK$4 million per year for drug sponsorship, she said.
Applications for drug sponsorship range from HK$10,000 to HK$800,000, Chin said, adding that sometimes the costs could even exceed that.
“Over the past four to five years, we have received around 40 to 50 applications per year,” Chin said. “Last year, there were around 180 new cases of cancer patients under the age of 18… meaning that one in four children with cancer may need drug sponsorship.”
Certain drugs for cancer therapy were not on a list of subsidised treatments and could cost millions of dollars, Chin said. “This causes a heavy financial toll to the families,” she added.
Chin said the broader message brought by Yeung’s donation was that every child battling cancer should be “given a choice for the suitable treatment,” which could alleviate the pain of chemotherapy and minimise the possibility of long-term impacts of cancer.
“The best medication is not always affordable,” she added.
In a separate voice note shared with the media on Friday, Christine Kwok, Yeung’s fiancée, said that she was grateful for Yeung’s action in inspiring others.
“To show children and other cancer patients how to carry on,” Kwok said in Cantonese, “is exactly the message that Gabriel would like to spread the most.”
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